Liquid-meter.



Nu. 628,3I2. Patented .|uly,4, |899. C. A. GRAY &. F. H. FABRAR.

LIQUID RETE".

(ppliction mod In. 4, 1898.\

"No Model.)

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CHARLES A. GRAY, OF KANSAS CITY, AND FREDERICK Il. FARRAR, OF

`NORTH ROSEDALE, lKANSAS.

LIQUID-Miras.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent N o. 628,312, dated July 4, 1899.

Application llled March 4, 1898.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that we, CHARLES A. GRAY,

residing at Kansas City, and FREDERICK H.-

FARRAR, residing at North Rosedale, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Meters 5 and we do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others to make and use the, same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

`The object of our invention is a safeguard in the dispensing of liquids in fractional quantities from the liquid in bulk, so that the exact amount withdrawn at any one Atime from the tank will be accurately registered,l as well as each partial withdrawal and subsequent replenishing of liquid in a standard liquid-measure.

Our invention furthermore is designed for ithe detection of waste and unauthorized withdrawals in amount of all kinds of liquids in bulk; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of devices hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of 'a broken rear end portion of the reservoir or tank containing the liquidinV bulk and of the novel liquid-meter connected therewith for receiving measured quantities of liquid with a portion of the upper case broken away to show the automatic registering mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the three-way cock. Fig. .3 is a rear view in detail of the lower end portion of the separate winding-rollers for the scale-sheet and also ofthe stationary rods and back plate for the scale-sheet and showing a portion of the top of the measuring vessel. Fig. 4 is a detail View of abroken portion of the ratchet-N Wheel on the lower end of the winding-roller for the movable scale-sheet, showingthe end ofthe horizontal bar and pawl actuating the` said wheel. Fig. 5 is a view in detail-of the slotted tube opposite the scale-sheet, showing the spiral spring, the pencil and pin, also showing the guide-plates on the guide-rods in'vertical section.

Seripl-Io. 672,621. (Fo model.)

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A in Fig.1 represents a reservoir or tank for the convenient storage of a large quantity of liquid and is` mounted u on a support or bed B.

a is the |scharging-en`d portion of tank A.

Upon the under side of tank A and connected therewith is a bracket a', the forward edge portion of which bracket is nearly in line with the end a yot'said tank'A'. Near one end a of tank Avis a standard liquid measure or vessel C, which, as illustrated, is cylindrical in form, the upper portion of theside of which is connected with the bracket a on the under side of tank A, the upper vend of the said measuring vessel extending upwardly to a' position near the lower part of the end a of tank A.

c represents the bottom of vessel C, and c.' the top or cover, which, for the purpose of -hermetically sealing the top and preventing the escape of any liquid in that direction, is secured to the vessel A in the following manner: Near the upper circular edge portion of the vessel C is a shoulder c2, extending entirely around the outer sideof the vessel, and from the inner side -of the shoulder is an upwardly'- extended annular flange c3, which forms the upper edge of the vessel C. The

cover c consists of a circular flat plate, on the retaining the case'he'reinafter described inposition.

With the under side portion of the tank A upon one edge of the bracket a is connected one endof a\Iiuid-con ducting pipe D, the other end of which pipe extends downwardly to a position a short distance below the line of the under side of bottom c of the measuring vessel C and is bent at `right angles and extended ina horizontal direction and forwardly beneath ethe bottom c of said vessel. to a positionv a short distance beyond the fgthefront portion of said vertical plane vessel C and is connected directly beneath the central portion of the bottomc with the inlet e of an ordinary three-way valve E, through which extends transversely the valvestem e', and upon the other end of which stern is a lever e2. With the outlet e3 of the valve E is connected one end of a short dischargepipe d', the other end of which pipe extends a short distance beyond the vertical plane of the front side of the vessel C and terminates in a downwardly-bent portion d2. With the opening e4 in the upper side of the valve E is connected one end of a short piece of pipe d3, the other end of which pipe is connected with the induction-opening 0X in bottom c ofthe vessel C.

Upon the upper surface of the top c and upon the portion of said top, near the end a of tank A, are separate vertical sheet-winding rollers F F', which are arranged in position a short distance apart and upon a line parallel with said end 0Lv of tank A. Upon the lower end 'of the roller F is a pivot f, which enters a slight depression f' in the upper surface of the top or cover c' of the vessel. Upon the lower end 'of roller F is fixed an annular collar f2, extending around the upper horizontal edge portion of which are ratchet-teeth f3. Upon the lower end of the roller F is a pivot f4, which enters a slight depression f5 in the top c' of the vessel C. The rollers F F are of the same height and both extend a consid. erable distance vertically above the top c' of the vessel C to permit of a proportional scalesheet to be arranged in position thereon in ratio with the cubical contents of the measuring vessel C. On the upper end of each one of the rollers F F is a pivot f6.

Extending through the surface of the top c of the vessel C, at a point on said top equi# distant from the vertical flange c5 of the top c', is a stuffing-box g. On each side of the stuffing-box g and parallel in position, with a line extending-horizontally through both rollers F F' are separate stationary guide-rods G G', secured at their lower ends to the upper surface of the top c' of the vessel C and extending in a vertical direction the same described height of the rollers F F'.v Directly opposite the rods G G', in the direction of the end a, of tank A and aslight distance toward said rods G G'in advance of aline extendingv horizontally through the rollers F F', are sep-' arate stationary rods H H', which are counected rigidly at their lower ends with the top c' of the vessel C at a short distance, respectively, from the rollers F F', the upper ends of which rods lextend vertically to the described height of the stationary guide-rods G G'. A With the upper end portions of the separate rods G G' is connected a; flat plate I, which is perforated at t' to receive the .said end of said rods'. The other end of plate I extends to a position directly above the up per screw-threaded ends of rods H H'pand are also perforated to receive the upper ends of said rods II 1I', and upon said screw-threaded ends is a nut i2. At the end portion of plate I, which is connected with the upper 'end of rod H, and upon one side of said plate is a curved extension is, which receives the pivot f6 on the upper end of the roller F and supports Asaid roller in position. -Upon the other side of plate I is a curved extension i4, which extends to a position above the upper end of roller F' and is perforated to receive the pivot f6 on said roller.

Directly in front of the rods H H' is an outwardly-curved plate K, which extends from the upper surface of the top c' to the under side portion of the plate I. One vertical edge portion of plate I is bent rearwardly and extended around the stationary rod H, and the other edge portion is bent rearwardly and extended around rod H'. guide-rods G G are the separate verticallymovable guide-plates L L,which are arranged a short distance apart. On the guide-rod G, between said plates L L, is a sleeve l, the upper end portion of which is secured rigidly tol the under side portion of plate L and the other end with the'upper side portion of the plate L'. On the guide-rod G', between the plates L L', is a sleeve Z', which is secured to said plates, as described of sleeve l, thus giving a steadiness of movement to said plates L L'.

Through both plates L L', at a p oint equi-v distant from rods G G', extends the upper end portion of a movable float-valve stem or rod m, upon which and above the plate L is an adjustable collar fm', in the side of which collar is an adjustable screw m2. On the under side of the plate Lis in the side of which is an adjustable screw m4. The other end of the valve-stem m extends downwardly through the stung-box g and is connected with the iloat-valve M as follows: The tloat4valve M consists of a hollow air-tight case, circular in form and composed'of top mi and a bottom m6, both of 7hich extend in the same horizontal plane from near the inner `portion of one side of the vessel C nearly to the other side of said vessel, so as to move freely wit-hout frictional contact the inner side of said vessel. The plates m5 'm6 are arranged a short distance apart for buoyancy and are rigidly connect ed at the outer edge with the annular plate 'm7, which forms the vside to said tioat-valve.

Through the center of the top m5 of the float-valve, at a point equidistant from the annularside m7, is extended one en d of a tube m8, which tube extends to the under side portion of the bottom m6 and isher'e hermetically sealed inthe valve.A In tube ms'isfinse'rted the lower end of the valve-stem 'm and secured, by soldering or otherwise, xedly thereto. In order to relieve the valve-stem from any inclination induced by the liquid and-also guide its movements, aguide-rod Nis secured rigidly to the under side portion of the topic' of the.,vessel C at a point a short distance from the inner portion and one side of vessel On the stationary" an adjustable collar m3,

IDO

IIO

spondence withthe other spaces described.l

C and the other end extended downwardly through a tube m9, in line therewith in the' oat-valve M, which is similar to the tube m8 in the center of the float-valve, and the other end of said rod connected by soldering with the, inner side of the bottom c of vessel C, the circumference of rod N being slightly less than the dimensions of the tubemi. Near the other sidey ofthe vessel C and connected with the inner side of the top c isa verticalguiderod N',.which extends downwardly through the tube m9, connected .with the valve-case M in precisely the same manner as described of the guide-rod N, the lowerend of which -rod being connected with the inner side of the bottom c ofvessel C. v

With roller F is connected in any preferred manner one end of the scale-sheet P, which consists of a sheet of paper or other-flexible material, which will in this instancebe woundupon the'rollersFF', and of the proper length- The said sheet P extends in height from a point on roller F a short distance above-the ratchet-teeth f3 on the collar f2 upwardly` nearly to a point in line'with the under side portion of the plate I. fOne end of the sheet P is secured by glue or other means to the rollerF and the other end is extended over the outer curved surface'of plate K'and is wound' a number of times upon roller F' and secured 'to the said roller in any well-known manner.

On the face of the sheet Pand upon the end.

portion connected with roller F is'a'scale p, beginning with the 0'mark near the lower edge ofthe sheet O andin an ascending series, consisting of the numerals.l, "2, 3,

4,? and 5, which are arranged as follows: From the 0 mark at the foot of the scale p and in line opposite said ,0 in1 an upward direction are four separate additional horizontal lines at equaldistances apart one from the other, and extending the entire vlength of sheet P and .opposite the fourth line from the 1 O is a numeral 1, between which numeral and the O af distance is described in-A dicative of a certain'dened amount of4 liquid admitted to the measuring vessel C from tank A, as will be hereinafter described, and between each line a space, each'sp'ace being indicative of the separate 'defined divisions of the total quantity of liquid inducted between lthe O and the numeral .1.

At the same described distance upwardlyA on sheet P from the line indicated by the numeral f l, as described, between said ,nn-

-meral and the 0 mark, is a horizontal line indicated by the numeral 2,,and between said lines are separate lines andspaces at' cated by the numerals 3,1 4, and. 5

are one above another and in--exact lc orre- With the inner edge portion of-theplate L' in the .direction of the sheet P is rigidly con'' 'said plate L to the scale-sheet P, in the sidel of which tube is a longitudinal slot '1'. In the tube R is alead-pencil r', in the side of which pencil is a pin fr, extending through the'slot fr; Within the tube Rin rear of the inner end of pencil is a coiled spring fr, the outer end of which pencil is in contact with the scalesheet P and retained in said position by the spring r3. Upon one side of the tube'fr and nearly opposite the roller Fis a block S, which is secured to the top c' of the vessel C, and'with the side o f which-block is rigidly connected one end of a flat spring S', the other end of which spring bears upon the scalesheet P on roller F with slight tension and retards the unfolding thereof. Upon the other .side-of the tube R and near the roller F is a guide-block t, which is secured to the top c' of the vessel C, and through the opening t' in which is extended one endof a' reciprocating bar T, which extends'to a position on the inner side of the roller F and directly above the ratchet-teeth f3 on the collar f2,

and upon the sidesof which bar are separate downwardly-extended lugs 15H2, and between said lugs is a pawl t3,`havin'g a: pivot t* 'extending transversely through said lugs. The other end of bar T extends horizontally in the direction of the front side of the vessel .C anda short distance beyond the outer edge portion'of said top c'. d Upon the front vertical side portion of the vessel C, on opposite sides of 'a vertical line extending through the outer end of bar T, are separate outwardlyextended guide-plates u u, betoweenewhich is IOO pivoted at a point u', which is nearly equidistant from the top c' to the bottom c of the vessel C,an oscillating lever U, the upper end of which lever is pivotally'cnnected with the outer end portion ofthe sliding bar T and I'IO lowerend extended downwardly to a position upon the side ofthe'pipe d', having the -handle e, to the three-way cock E. Upon the valve-rodze' to said cock is a fixed eccentricplate fu,V around which is extended a ring 'u' and with which' ring is connected one end of an eccentric-rod 02, the other' end of which rod is pivotally connected with the lower end of the oscillating lever U. The oscillating lever U is covered `or concealed the greater part of the length by the front plate u' on the guideplates u u. On'the top c' of the vessel C, near the roller4 F, is fixedly connected one end of a dat spring u, the other end of which spring bears upon the ratchet'- 'teeth 7"8 of the collar f2 'on theroller F and regulates the movement of the roller F when actuated by the pawl t3;- For the purpose of conc'ealingallot the exposed parts of the meter a circular case W of the'same circu mference as that of the vessel C is placed upon the top c. of the said. vessel and having a topw extending above the rollers F F', the ylower '4 Bessie whichfcovering-case WV edges of the sides of side of the flange c? of end of which pipe extendsto a pcsition above the top w of the case W, and thence bent at an angle, as at and extended downwardly near the front portion of the vessel C and connected with the top portion c of said vessel.

On the outer side portion of the case W and near the lower edge'portion is a hasp Y, and on the side of the vessel C is a staple y, over which the hasp passes and is secured by padlock y'. Other hasps Y and staples are secured to the case W and vessel C at suit-able points in the direction of the circumference of the said vessel and case in like manner as posite the the hasp Y.

In the employment of the improved meter,

as hereinafter described for its intended use,

the float-valve M before the introduction of the fluid isat the bottom of the vessel C, and likewise the registering devices are at the lowest positien,with the end of the pencil rr' upon the lowest line upon the scale-sheet P and op` O mark upon saidbsheet, this adjustment of the pencil being readily eiected by the movement of the guides L L' en the valve-stem m, for which purpose the collars m' 'm3, are-released by the set-screws m2 m and. the proper adjustment of the guides L L then made. The tank A, it will be observed, which for the purpose of retailing may or may not have an exact, but an approximate, liquid to its full capacity and is admitted iirst to the vessel C. For the. purpose of admitting the liquid to the'vessel C the lever e2 is'throw-n from a position as seen in dotted lines inte the positionas seen infull lines in 1, and the draft is made upon the liquid in the tank A. The can or other vessel into which the liquid is drawn. is placed beneath the bent portion d* of the discharge-pipe d'. The liquid thus admitted through valve E enters the vessel C, beneath the float-vaive M,

through the pipe d3, and the oat-valve,whose' buoyancy retains a position upon the surface of the fluid; rises with 'the inowing liquid and is guidedby'the guide-rods-N vN', the air above `the valve` passing up the pipe X into the tank A. In order, therefore, to iill the .vessel C and carry the float-valve tothe top c' of the vessel, said vessel CV s made of a cer? tain standard, and for illustration supp-ose the cubic contents of the vessel C when the floatvalve M is at its highest elevation will be equal lto--iive gallons exactly of the liquid, and as liqnids vary in density let the liquid be the ordinary refined burning fluid Acommonly called coal-oiiJ It will then be perceived that the scale from 0 to 5 will indicate the cubical,

contents of the refined oil' in the vessel C, and, furthermore, that so much in quantity less than ve gallons-to that of onequart er e`ven iess the circumference ofthe vesselA C is of known quantity, isiilled with the' such dimensions that, the amount of liquid at each level being. absolutely defined in the measure C, the scale-sheet P becomes an automatic index of the graduated amounts less those five gallons admitted to the said vessel C. In proportion to the increased size of the measure C of course must follow an increase in the size of the seais-sheet P. Suppose, then, that the usual amount at one delivery fromtank A would require an amount equal tothe capacity of the tank C. The pencil sheet P at the 0 mark, as heretofore stated, the rearward movement of the lever e2 causes the eccentric a) o' and rod lr2 to actuate thepawl t3 and turn the roller F one degree, and consequently move the scale-sheet La proportional distance toward the collar F, past the pencil-point r', thus leaving a mark on the scale-sheet, yand in -the same movement of lever e2 the'liquid enters the vessel C, and the valve-stem m and float-valve M move upwardly, and with them the guides L L' and the pencil fr', the said pencil making a mark on the scale-sheet on a straight line to the top of the'scale-sheet and opposite the `iine following the numeral f5. As soon as the vessel is filledl with the liquid the lever e2 is given a quarter-turn te a vertical position, as seen in dotted line, which closes the valve in the direction of the tank A and permits the contents 'of the vessel C to be Adischarged through the pipe d'. In this. movement of the valve-e2 the lower end of the oscillating lever U is forced outwardly, causing the pawl t3 on the ratchet-teeth f3 to. pass over the ratchet-teeth and engage with a ratchet-tooth in advance. .As the float-valve moves downwardl the pencil alsomoves downwardly on thesa e line made going up and continues also to indicate the full discharge ofthe liquid from the measuring vessel C. Suppose, however, that instead of'withdrawing thefull gallons-of the liquid are taken from thevessel C and no more. The valve-lever e2 being given a quarter-turn to stop the flow of the liquid, the pencil lr' stops on the scale-sheet at the proportionate distance downward fron the top of the scale-sheet. The pawl t3 causes the roller F to moye thel scaie-sheet one degree, the pencil describing a horizontal line oh the scale-sheet from the vertical line, and I the valve E being open toward the supply-pipe ,D'the liquid flows into the vessel C and the float-valve moves upwardly to the top of the tank, the pencil r indicating the exact distance traversed on the scale-sheet upwardly 1 and the amou'ntrrequired to rell the vessel C. In order, therefore, to obtain the liquid from tank A, the vessel C must contain an amountto be drawn upon, and whiletthe lever eI is turned so as to, prevent the discharge from the pipe d' the liquid is passing from -tank A into -the vessel C and continues until the Iioat-valve receives the highest elevation,

when' the llow stops of itself, the amount,

r being upon the lowest point of the scale- 4 amount-of liquid from the vessel C one or two however, being indicated in each instance upon the scale-sheet', so that whatever fractional quantity of liquid may be taken from the vessel C it will be accurately recorded, and the marks upon 'the scale-sheet when the tank Ais empty will be a permanent record of the quantity originally in the tank and of the successive amounts drawn and its exact measure, as well as indicating the number of times the valve Epis operated and the amounts discharged between the opening and closing of the said valves. The scale may be arranged to indicate the smaller standard measures less than one gallon,so that in wine measure the adjustment of the scale may be varied to the proportionate capacity of the wine-measuring vessel. l

The meter may be made of various proportions and the supply-pipe connected directly with a water service pipe when required. The scale-sheet P may be replaced Aby others of the same design and size when the ,occasion requires. l

When pressure is used on the liquid in the measuring vessel, the air-vent pipe X may terminate within the vessel W or the air'relieved around the valve-rod, the upper part of the floatvalve at its highest elevation closing the space around the stufling-box and preventing the escape of the liquid.

Having fully described our invention, what we now claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I l. In a liquid-meter the combination with a hermetically-sealed liquid-measuring vesselof a float-valve therein, and a valve-rod extending through the top of said vessel, a cutfoff valve beneath the bottom of said vessel, having separate three-way openings, and -a valve-stem, apipe leading from one of said valve-openings to the bottom of said measuring vessel, and a separate pipe leading from said valve to the source of supply for the liquid, and a discharge-pipe for the liquid extending from said valve, separate pivoted sheet-carrying rollers upon the top of the v and an eccen tric-rod connected with the lower end of the oscillating lever, and adjustable recording devices on the upper end of the valverod to the oat-valve, in contact with the movable scale-sheet.

2. The combination with a tank for liquids I in bulk of a hermetically-sealed liquid-Ineasuring vessel a liquid-supply pipe connected with the said tank and` also `with the bot-- tom portion of said measuring vessel and an air-vent to-said vessel, a ioat-valve within said measuring vessel a valve-rod extending through the top of the said, vessel, a`. movable sheet having a scalethereon indicating the amountof liquid admitted to and,drawn from the said vessel, endless traveling .carriers ofsaid scale-sheet upon said measuring vessel, a motor for actuating said carriers upon said measuring vessel, recording devices upon the top of said measuring vessel movablyv connected with and actuated by the valve-rod to the float-valve in contact with lthe said scalesheet and suitable fixed guides upon said measuring vessel for said recording devices.

CHARLES A. GRAY;

FREDERICK H. EARRAR.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS A. LEAcH, Y, A. L. GREER. 

